The application of iron coated activated alumina, ferric oxihydroxide and granular activated carbon in removing humic substances from water and wastewater: Column studies

The efficiency of iron coated activated alumina, ferric oxihydroxide and granular activated carbon for the removal of humic substance (HS) from water and wastewater was demonstrated in batch studies. This paper investigated the use of these successful adsorption-adsorbate systems in a continuous flow mode in an effort to obtain the required design and operational data; essential for successful application in water treatment works. The adsorbents were used individually. The influence of the various molecular mass fractions on the adsorption ability of the various systems was considered. Fractionation of humic substances was carried out and low, medium and high molecular mass fractions were produced. Two different column diameters (2.5 and 1 cm) were used in the experimental runs. The smaller diameter column was used for experiments dealing with the lower molecular weigh humics as these are very difficult to produce in large enough quantities to carry out continuous adsorption runs in the traditional 2.5 cm diameter laboratory adsorption columns. The dissolved organic content (DOC), ultraviolet (UV) absorbance and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) values were measure and analysed under different operating conditions. Furthermore, the experimental results were modelled using the Thomas model and the empty bed contact time model (EBCT). The Mass Transfer Zone was also analysed for all cases. The results indicated strongly the influence of molecular mass in the adsorption of humic substances. In addition, two distinctive features appear from these results; GAC is able to remove high MM although lacking of mesoporosity (attributed to precipitation and alteration of HS conformation) and beta-FeOOH does not show such a high adsorption capacity as previously predicted, attributed to the non-equilibrium state and to the lack of surface under the media compaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.